Chapter 2

I pulled free of his hands and buried my face in the blanket.

“I’m tired.”

Damien seemed surprised. I had always been the one chasing him. I had never once turned him away.

He stroked my hair. “Okay. Get some rest. Once you’re better, I’ll take you skiing. You’ve always wanted to go, right?”

He looked like he wanted to say more, but his phone rang. I saw the name Chloe flash across the screen.

He picked up right away, and he couldn’t hide the joy in his eyes.

My chest ached in spite of myself. Damien kissed my forehead, told me something had come up, and left without a second’s hesitation.

I didn’t need to ask who was on the other end of that call. The look on his face said it all.

Late that night, Chloe posted a photo: a man’s back as he stood at a stove, cooking for her.

[All I said was “I’m hungry,” and he came running. Hehe.]

That was all it took. One word from her, and Damien walked out on me while I was burning with a 104-degree fever, just to go cook her dinner.

Chloe really was the one he could never get over.

I swallowed the bitterness, and I was more grateful than ever that I had decided to leave.

A week later, Damien took me skiing. The moment his friends saw me, they rushed over and called me “Luna” with big, bright smiles.

I used to think they were just playful. Now that I knew the truth, I could see the contempt in their eyes as plainly as daylight. To them, I was a cheap toy, there to be played with and thrown away.

One of them eagerly offered to teach me. Damien smiled and gave me a little push.

“Go on. You’ve always wanted to learn. Don’t worry, these guys are basically pros.”

At first, they really did teach me, slowly and patiently. But when we reached the top of a steep run, they suddenly picked up speed and pulled me along with them.

I got scared and tried to stop, but someone shoved me hard from behind. I went tumbling down the slope.

Pain tore through my leg. I lay helpless in the snow, and when I looked up, they were standing over me. Smiling.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital.

Damien hurried to my bedside and brushed the hair off my face.

“Aria, the doctor says you have a hairline fracture in your shin. You’ll need to rest for a while. You’re going to be fine, I promise. But... you won’t be able to compete in the dance competition.”

My heart dropped. I had trained for that competition for a whole year. My coach and I had poured everything we had into it.

I broke down sobbing. Damien reached to wipe my tears, but I turned my face away.

“Please go. I want to rest.”

Damien looked at me in silence for a long moment, then left.

I lay there without moving. Then something buzzed on the nightstand.

It was Damien’s phone. He had forgotten it.

I shifted carefully, reached for it, and opened it. It was a group chat I had never seen before.

[Hahaha, prank #98 on Aria: done!]

[Broke her leg, so now she can’t steal the title from Chloe!]

[Thanks for looking out for me, guys~ But let’s not go too far, okay?]

Chloe was in the chat too. They were all chatting about my pain like it was a show they had bought tickets to.

[Hang in there a little longer, Chloe. Damien’s about to dump Aria, and then you’ll be our real Luna!]

[So what’s #99? Make it a good one!]

[I know an abandoned high-rise, that half-built tower on the east side they condemned last spring. We lure Aria up there and lock her on a high floor overnight. Scare her half to death, hahahaha!]

[Tenth floor, east corner. No power, no windows, total blackout. Perfect.]

As I read their plan, a new idea began to take shape.

The grief drained away. All I felt now was disgust.